It is a time of fear in the face of freedom, a time of an emptying country and swelling cities, a time for the widening of previous roads and the opening of new paths, yet a time when these paths are mined by knowing algorithms of the all-seeing eye. It is the time of the warrior's peace and the miser's charity, when the planting of a seed is an act of conscientious objection. These are the times when maps fade, old landmarks crumble and direction is lost. Forwards is backwards now, so we glance sideways at the strange lands through which we are all passing, knowing for certain only that our destination has disappeared. We are unready to meet these times, but we proceed nonetheless, adapting as we wander, reshaping the Earth with every tread. Behind us we have left the old times, the standard times, the high times. Welcome to the irregular times.

Why does it matter that they voted against this legislation? What was so important about H. Con. Res. 105?

H. Con. Res. 105, if it passes into law, will force the President of the United States to consult Congress before starting a new war in Iraq. Currently, Barack Obama asserts that he has the right to take the United States into a new war in Iraq at his sole discretion.

The active clause of H. Con Res 105 reads, “Pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C.
1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces, other than Armed Forces required to protect United States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq–
(1) by no later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning on the day on which this concurrent resolution is adopted; or
(2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove such United States Armed Forces before the end of that period, by no later than December 31, 2014, or such earlier date as the President determines that the Armed Forces can safely be removed.”

By making the removal of U.S. military resources from Iraq the legal default, H. Con. Res. 105 would make it necessary for Congress to approve any new war in Iraq. The 40 U.S. representatives who voted against this resolution were in essence voting to allow Barack Obama, or any future president, to send the American military off to fight in Iraq all over again – even if the American people are opposed.

At present, the United States Senate needs to pass an equivalent piece of legislation to H. Con. Res. 105 before the law can move forward to the White House to be signed into law. If you want to curtail to this century’s bad habit of rushing off to war, call your two U.S. Senators and urge them to act on this issue, before it’s too late.

3 comments to Roll Call: Members Of Congress Who Voted To Let Barack Obama Start A New War In Iraq Whenever He Wants To

Bearing in mind how the Forever War is mostly fought these days, I disagree with the statement that “By making the removal of U.S. military resources from Iraq the legal default, H. Con. Res. 105 would make it necessary for Congress to approve any new war in Iraq.” There’s always a base somewhere within striking distance of Iraq by drones, cruise missiles, and smart bombs, and there are always mercenaries a la Blackwater (AKA Xe, AKA Academi) that are more than happy to do our wet-work for us for a price. None of these come under the category of “United States Armed Forces” present “in” Iraq. The only language that would really count would be language regarding the conduct or sponsorship of hostilities.

Congress did you passed the bill about the homeless.why did you do that you made things worse for are state.there is war coming soon and your to stupit to see it.there stealing from us at night while were sleeping.the cops are doing nothing about at all.this has to stop now get them out are state we don’t need them here.we will take are own way of doing things.Obama is wrong of taking care of the economy’s problem he’s making worse.he’s hitting us bad.you have to stop pay the homeless there buying grugs and beerer.you need to something soon before its to late.no busy steals from me any more.Obama needs to be in peach now.

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